Heat-diffuser and water-back device



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- earge Fazzini/5,

ATTORNEYS.

May 14, 1940. G. FAuLDs HEAT-DIFFUSER AND wATERAcx DEVICE v Filed Jan. 7, 1959 Ffa M ,.n .12,12 M A l .v v. IVY 00 .0 9. @j

May 414, 1940. G, FAULDS HEAT-DIFFUSER AND WATER-BACK DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a m. m @un l W INVENTOR- w (iwf e aulds,

@W TN ESSES:

A TTORNE YS.

`May 14, 1940. G, FAULDS 2,200,985

HEAT-DIFFUSER AND WATER-BACK DEVICE 7 Filed Jan. '7,1939 s sheets-sheet s Rm o u Y T E LT w m m e n y 4 0 ,M W e z l w G 9 3 Hm w E. 1 H N M W n #www m/fmw WOW @JW Patented May 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT-DIFFUSR AND WATER-BACK DEVICE George Faulds, Philadelphia, Pa.y Application January 7, 1939, Serial No. 249,675

6 Claims.

This invention has reference to furnacesv preferably, although not essentially, of the type used for heating domestic and similar boilers, and it has for a fundamental object to provide a novel heat-diffuser and water-back device for installation in the combustion chamber of such furnace, whereby more complete combustion of the available heat units is positively obtained and the thermogenic effect applied to greater advantage.

Another object is the provision of a device of the above indicated character which is adapted for easy assembly in the combustion chamber of conventional heaters with a minimum of labor and expense while being reversible without in any way impairing its eciency.

A further object is to provide a combination heat-diffuser and water-back, preferably for domestic heaters, for application proximate the inner upper surface or crown of the combustion chamber whereby said crown is concurrently heated with the surrounding Wall when the heater is on, so that the uid agency is more promptly heated and circulated than heretofore, whereas when the heater is olf a sudden drop in the temperature of said agency is prevented.

A still further object is to provide a device of the above indicated type for intermittently-fired furnaces whereby convection losses, during the foff periods of the heat producing medium, are

reduced to a minimum or substantially eliminated.

With the foregoing objects and ancillary advantages in View, this invention, generally stated,

l consists of the novel means, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the concluding claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a broken vertical section of a standard type of domestic heater with a typical embodiment of this invention installed in the combustion chamber thereof.

Fig. II is a plan section, taken approximately as indicated by the arrows II-II in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a vertical section on the plane III III of Fig. II, but drawn to a larger scale for clearer illustration of the details.

Fig. IV is a corresponding view to the preceding, but showing the combined heat-diffuser and water-back device of this invention reversed or in a different position.

Fig. V is a top perspective view of a heat retainer component of the novel device of this invention.

Fig. VI is a similar view to the'preceding, but looking into the reverse side thereof. i

Fig. VII is a perspective View of a supporting bracket later on fully described.

Fig. VIII is a perspective view of an expansioncontraction component of the device supporting means. 4

Fig. IX is a detail perspective view of oneof the baflies included, or used with the heat-diffuser of this invention; and,

Fig. X is a view similar to Fig. III of a modied form of the invention;

More specifically, the present invention is directed to a simple and highly efficient heat-diffuser and water-back device which is capable of easy installation in coal, coke or oil-fired furnaces either as an attachment for existing heaters or for inclusion in new ones. As a convenient embodiment, and referring first to Figs. I-IX, inclusive, the invention is shown as adapted to a coal-re'd heater I, having an ash-box 2, grate 3, combustion or furnace chamber 4, hot water boiler 5, insulating jacket 6, Water-head l, upper and lower access doors 8, 9, respectively, and a clean-out door Ill; all of said parts being merely referred to as a back-ground in explaining the present invention.

Thenovel heat-diffuser and Water-back of this invention preferably comprises a concavo-convex .body or device II, of substantial proportions capable of retaining heat and being formed with a surrounding ange I2, in turn including a rim I3 at right-angles to said flange and projecting beyond both faces thereof, for Va purpose later on explained, and also to render the device II reversible. Axially the device I I is provided' with an aperture I4 having concentrically related outer and inner annular ribs l5, I 6, respectively, as well as a series of surrounding spaced sectoralsection passages I'I, the angular portions whereof are outwardly directed; and a plurality of diametrically-opposing embossments or apertured lugs I8.

Adapted for seating engagement over either of the annular ribs I5, I6 is a hollow semi-spherical water-back I9 having a concentric groove 2D projecting from the convex face for coaction with said ribs, as clearly understandable from Figs. III and IV, more particularly. 'Ihis water-back I9 is provided interiorly with semi-crescent radial webs 2l, to enhance its heat conductivity, and a flat wall 22 having a central screw-threaded hole 23 for attachment of a service or water-inlet pipe 24, and an axially aligned correspondinglythreaded hole 25 for similar connection of an outlet pipe 26. In addition, the water-back IS may be provided with a further screw-threaded hole 21, normally closed fluid-tight by a removable plug 28, whereby provision is made for variable connection of either the inlet or outlet pipes 24, 26 in the event the former or the latter should enter the furnace at different levels to those shown.

For the purpose of supporting the device Il, centrally within the furnace 4, in close proximity to the water-head l, use is made of counterpart brackets 29, one oi which is shown detached in Fig. VII. Each bracket 29 comprises a body portion 3D having an extension 3| at one end, with elongated vertical slots 32 therethrough for passage of securing means 33, whereby the respective brackets are attachable to the side walls oi the upper access door opening 34; and an opposing arcual portion 35 with spaced radial notches 35 in the upper edge thereof. The bracket 29 also embodies a lateral portion 31 of appropriate transverse-section for abutment against the inner wall of the jacketed furnace ll, and a reinforcing web 38. It is to be noted the curvilinear contour of the lateral portion 37 conforms somewhat with the circumferential outline of the rim i3 of the device l l, so that the latter can seat thereon with provision of inner and outer clearance; or, in other words, the cross-section of the bracket arcual portion 35 is substantially wider than that of the rim I3. It is also to be remarked that when the opposing brackets 2i) are mounted, as above explained, the inner ends of their arcual portions 35 do not meet, or are spaced apart for interposition of a complementally curved section 39, Fig. VIII, having anking reduced ilanges i5 with elongated horizontal slots 4! for free passage of clamp means l2 engaged in spaced holes 't3 through the ends of said arcual portions, whereby effective provision is made for relative expansion and contraction of the brackets 29 and section 39. The section 39 is also provided in its upper edge with a notch lll similar to the bracket notches 36.

Substantial heat-retaining bafiies 65, each having a grooved base tt, Fig. IX, and a tangential blade l1 inclined upwardly to the horizontal and projecting beyond the base 4t at one side, are arranged to seat around the rim I3, of the device Il, so as to provide overlaps defining restricted flow passages 43 for combustible gases under whorling action; while the outer flange 49 of the base 4G may be made deeper than the inner ange for stabilizing purposes.

Fig. IV differs only from the preceding description by showing the inverted usage of the device l l, or the suspension thereof by means of hangers 50 and lock nuts 5l from the brackets 29,` said hangers passing through the bores 52 of the apertured lugs i3 and having hook ends 53, for their Asupport by cross-rods 54 seated as desired in the bracket notches 36, as clearly apparent without further explanation. It is to be observed, however, in assembling this embodiment of the invention that, due to inversion of the device li, the inlet pipe 24 is connected into the hole 25, with the outlet pipe similarly secured in the hole 23.

Referring now to Fig. X, all parts having equivalents in the preceding description lare correspondingly designated by the same reference characters, with an added prime exponent for illustrative differentiation and to avoid unnecessary repetitive description. The characterizing distinction of this form of the invention is that the heat-diffuser and water-back are embodied as a unit 55. This unit 55, it is to be noted, is of substantial cellular structure to embody intercommunicating inlet and outlet hollows 56, l, respectively, with a surrounding hollow 58 and connecting passages 59, so that provision is made for an ample quantity of water to be continuously heated as it circulates through the unit 55. Furthermore, it will be obvious this modiication of the invention may be supported either as described in connection with Fig. III or Fig. IV.

In operation, it will be readily understood that as the device l l or unit is heated by ascending iiame within the furnace i and, incidental to its massive or substantial structure, it will become incandescent by storing-up considerable heat-units, while at the same time it will also diffuse the rising combustible gases, under whorling action from below said device around and through the baiile flow-restrictive passages i8 directly against the inner surface oi the waterhead i with greater convective eiect and resultant prompter heating of the boiler water and its more rapid circulation through the associated radiating system. In addition, jets or serially arranged flows oi the combustible gases will pass through the passages l'l or il for direct action upon and circulation about the water-back I9 or unit 55; while restricted flows of such gases will pass through the bracket notches 35, M, or 36', 44 for even distribution below and about the baies 35, 5', Figs. III and X, respectively. Thus it will be seen that by the use of the device H, or the unit 55, and in either of the positions s et forth, considerable heat will be accumulated and directed against the inner crown surface of the furnace t irrespective of the specific firing agency employed or its continuous or intermittent action, whereby said surface will be rapidly heated and so maintained during the on periods of the heater i; also, when the firing is intermittent incident to the massive or substantial character of the device l l or unit 55 rapid drops in temperature of the water-head 'l or 1 as well as the water-back IQ or unit 55 will be prevented.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that while specic forms of this invention have been disclosed, other typesand modiiications thereof in adapting the same to different applications are contemplated. Hence the right is reserved to all reasonable changes in the details of construction and arrangements of the parts as fairly come within the scope of the following claims and the prior art permits.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

I. In a furnace, a combustion chamber having an access door, a combined heat-diffuser and water-back device adapted for location centrally within said chamber over the combustible medium, said device comprising a substantial structure with surrounding tangential edge-lapping baffles, said bailes being inclined to the horizontal and also capable of storing heat, and bracket means including counterpart components with an intervening section for combined support of the device from the frame of the access door, said intervening section having relatively movable connection with the counterpart component free ends to accommodate expansion and contraction of the combined supporting means.

2. The combination of claim i wherein each bracket counterpart component embodies a body portion having an attaching section at one end with elongated vertical slots therein to permit vertical adjustment, and an arcual continuation at the other end, said continuation having spaced holes proximate the free end for connection of of the intervening section.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the bracket means intervening section is of curvi linear contour with anking reduced flanges,

and said flanking flanges have elongated hori- 4 zontal slots therethrough for the purpose specied. v

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the combined heat-diiuser and water-back device comprises a substantial concavo-convex body with a surrounding flange having a circumferential rim projecting angularly beyond the plane of said flange at both sides thereof whereby said device is usable in inverted position, and

the Water-back portion is in the form of a hollow semi-spherical structure axially secured.v

within the concavity of the heat diiuser body.

5. The combination of claim l wherein the heat-diiuser and water-back device is provided with diametrically opposed vertical borings, and

ture being! provided with intercommunicating inlet and outlet hollows, and a surrounding hollow with connecting passages for circulatory flow therethrough of the water to be heated.

v GEORGE FAULDS. 

